Background: USP McCreary was opened in 2003. As is the case with many high-security facilities, little information about this prison is available to the public. However, the media has reported on numerous violent incidents at USP McCreary, including assaults on staff. Some staff members of the prison have been quoted by the media as being fearful for their lives due to the risks involved in their jobs at the facility. In October of 2013, a controversial story aired on a local television station concerning the prison staff working without pay due to the 2013 federal government shutdown, while the prison inmates still collected pay for their work. Notable inmates include gang leader Ronell Wilson (serving a life sentence for murder of two New York City Police detectives), former hitman for the Bonanno crime family Thomas Pitera (serving a life sentence for murder, murder conspiracy, and racketeering), white supremacist Ricky Mungia (serving a life sentence for civil rights violations), and lawyer and financier Tim Durham (serving a 50-year sentence for conspiracy to commit mail and securities fraud).

Housing: Inmates are housed in one-person and two-person cells within the twelve housing units. In the camp inmates are housed in dormitories.

Psychology Services: USP McCreary and the camp have psychologists who are available to provide counseling and other mental health services. All inmates meet with a psychologist for an intake screening interview during their first 14 days at the institution. The Challenge Program is available to inmates interested in making positive lifestyle changes. Group therapy, personal counseling, and a self-help library are also available. Groups are regularly offered in stress management, anger management, and self-image, amongst others.

Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP): USP McCreary and the camp do not house a Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). Inmates can be referred to other facilities that provide the program. Both facilities offer Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), the Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP), and a Drug Education Class.

Library Services: A leisure library is available in the Education Department. Inmates may check out books, magazines, reference materials, and a number of newspapers. The law library is located in the Education Department and contains a variety of legal reference materials and the TRULINCS Electronic Law Library for use in preparing legal papers. Reference materials include the United States Code Annotated, Federal Reporter, Supreme Court Reporter, and Bureau of prisons program statements, institution supplements, indexes, and other legal materials.

Commissary: The total value of an inmate’s accumulated Commissary items must stay within the monthly spending limitation of $360.00. In addition, an inmate is authorized to have $29.40 in postage stamps (60) in his possession. At the commissary, inmates can purchase items such as snacks, food, drinks, clothing, electronics, and shoes.

Recreation Services: Recreation programs at USP McCreary include indoor and outdoor activities and range from individual arts and crafts programs to intramural team sports, such as softball, basketball, soccer, and volleyball.

United States Penitentiary McCreary is a federal prison located in Pine Knot, Kentucky. Learn more about this prison such as its background, population, security levels, health services, commissary, visitation, directions to the prison and more.